community worship

I wrote a blog post really similar to this on tuesday, but thoroughly enjoyed filing through songs to find some of my favorites that meant a lot to my heart and where I’m at (and reminded me where I once was!). one of the things I learned while at camp through a leader’s bible study was how important it is to be involved in a worship community. yes, it is great to do your own daily devotionals and be in a youth group, but going to a church every Sunday to praise God in community with other believers will impact your life in more ways than one.

while I was looking through songs, quite a few were from my experiences at youth group this spring. I saved a few of the lyric pages in my bible, and found them as I was flipping through the pages, reminded of the things I learned and the people I was learning with.

below are some of my favorite songs from that time I spent, each Thursday night, delving into God’s word. similar to the last post, I am not telling you how these songs have impacted my life or what the words mean to me; I want you to think about what these words mean to you and your life. because each song can have a unique story, awaiting for you.  

cornerstone // hillsong

Christ alone, Cornerstone

Weak made strong in the Savior’s love

Through the storm, He is Lord

Lord of All

… I rest on His unchanging grace

in every high and stormy gale

my anchor holds

jesus paid it all // newsboys

Jesus paid it all,

all to Him I owe,

sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow

… O praise the One who paid my debt,

and raised this life up from the dead

jesus messiah // chris tomlin

love so amazing

Jesus Messiah, name above all names

Blessed Redeemer, Emanuel

the rescue for sinners

the ransom from heaven

Jesus Messiah, Lord of All

…

All our hope is in You

All our hope is in You

All the glory to you, God

the Light of the World

i’m forgiven (amazing love) // chris tomlin

I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken.

I’m accepted, you were condemned.

I’m alive and well, your spirit lives within me,

because You died and rose again.

Amazing love, how can it be?

that you my king would die for me.

Amazing Love, I know it’s true,

and it’s my joy to honor you,

in all I do, I honor you.

You are my King.

thy mercy my God // sandra mccrackin

the joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue

… but through Thy free goodness my spirit’s revived,

and He who first made me still keeps me alive.

the same power // michael w smith

there is power in His name.

… mountains bow down before

Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.

… Mighty Savior, lifted high;

King forever, Jesus Christ.

Crowned in glory, raised to life,

the same power lives in us.

… the grave could not contain,

the power of Your name.

death you overcame, once and for all.

in Christ,

p.s. very soon, I will be compiling a short list of my favorite Spotify playlists, one in particular that will include all of the songs I've shared this week! (so stay tuned!!)

06 . 22 . 15

in continuation after this post, I have decided to continue sharing the mighty things I learned while at camp!

if you didn’t get a chance to read my first post, here is the main “mission” from our time at camp, as well as what I hope at least one reader will learn from this series ::

throughout the week, we studied different components of the Lord's Prayer. as Episcopalians, this is a prayer we say every Sunday in our service, and for most it has become part of our second nature. a lot of times we don't even think about what we're really saying, what we're actually asking God to do for us!

today’s blog post is focused on the second section of the prayer.

{ thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as is is in heaven }

LARGE and IN CHARGE

read : Matthew 6:9-13 {The Lord's Prayer}

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

   on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

   as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

   but deliver us from the evil one.”’

God is the King- and his kingdom is heaven; but …

it has come, through Jesus

it will come, through God

and it is already on Earth, in our hearts through the Holy Spirit

pray for the good news

submit to God through the Lord’s prayer

read : Luke 22:39-46 {Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives}

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them.“Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

your will be done - purpose of prayer

Jesus prayed a part of the Lord’s prayer that we still say to this day!

three things we should do while praying :

submit to God’s will

share God’s kingdom

seek God’s direction

in Christ,

p.s. one disclaimer I want to make that in no way am I trying to sound “preachy” or force my beliefs on you. I simply want to share what I’ve learned and hope that, in the process, at least one person finds some benefit in something they read through this series. I am always open to any comments you have and I will read and reply to each one, whether it is for discussion or constructive criticism!

power of song

although I’ve been absent from my little corner of the internet for quite some time, I have continued to read blog posts through Bloglovin’, and have found even more through friends, Twitter, and Instagram. I am frequently inspired by those around me and especially love blog posts that make me think and look at some aspect of my life a little bit differently.

two of my friends, Carrie from Carrie on Blogs and Thomas from Confuzzled Castaway, both recently published blog posts that were “responses” on quotes and song lyrics. what I loved most about the way they wrote their posts was that they allowed us, as readers, to think about how the words applied to our life, rather than telling us how the words made them feel. which, let’s be real - that can often times lead us to be influenced to think of the quote/lyrics in a different way that may not be most applicable to us.

read Carrie’s post here // read Thomas’s post here

so I’m following suit, in admiration of how their posts influenced me and how it’s changed the way I listen to some of my favorite songs. for this specific post, I am going to focus on some of my favorite praise and worship songs (very similar to how Carrie formatted her post!). since I was just recently at camp, I was immersed in 8-10 different songs that I grew to love and really pray through.

I hope that these songs lead you to something you've been looking for.

How Can It Be // Lauren Daigle

You plead my cause, you right my wrongs

You break my chains, you overcome

You gave your life to give me mine

You say that I am free

How can it be, how can it be?

As It Is In Heaven // Matt Maher

Let your kingdom come

Let your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven

Every eye proclaim

The mercy of Your name

On earth as it is in heaven.

Your Love is Amazing // Holy Cross Praise Team

Your love is amazing, steady and unchanging.

Your love is a mountain, firm beneath my feet.

Your love is a myst’ry. How You gently lift me

When I am surrounded, Your love carries me.

If You Do Not Come // Holy Cross Praise Team

Let us find our rest in Thee.

…

Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us // Stuart Townsend

How deep the Father’s love for us,

How vast beyond all measure,

…

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished;

His dying breath has brought me life

…

I will boast in Jesus Christ

All Because of Jesus // Casting Crowns

Every sunrise sings Your praise

The universe cries out Your praise

I'm singing freedom all my days

Now that I'm alive

Give Us Clean Hands // Chris Tomlin

Give us clean hands and give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

Give us clean hands, oh God and give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

Oh God let us be a generation that seeks

Who seeks Your face, oh God of Jacob

Oh God let us be a generation that seeks

Who seeks Your face, oh God of Jacob

Breathe // Michael Smith

This is the air I breathe

This is the air I breathe

Your holy presence living in me

…

And I I'm desperate for you

And I I'm I'm lost without you

in Christ,